Prison director jailed in wake of murderous riot

The director of the Topo Chico prison, where 49 prisoners died in a riot on Thursday, has been jailed on a charge of homicide, along with other managers, authorities announced Saturday.

In a press conference in Monterrey, the prosecutor general of the state of Nuevo Leon, Roberto Flores Trevino, said that prison director Gregoria Salazar, director of penal administration Jesus Fernando Dominguez Jaramillo and prison guard Jose Reyes Hernandez Aguilar were being charged with aggravated homicide. The first two were also charged with abuse of power.

Flores Trevino explained that the judge overseeing the case ordered their arrest although, at the request of defense, he gave Salazar and Jaramillo 144 hours to resolve their judicial situation.

However, they were remanded in custody until the next hearing on Feb. 18.

During the hearing, the prosecutor announced that 49 prisoners have died, of which five were severely burned and four remain unknown. Seven of the victims have not yet been handed over to their families.

Flores Trevino added that a number of other arrests might well be made as the investigation continues. Enditem